Kerryn Phelps to run as independent in Wentworth and urges voters to put Liberals last

Kerryn Phelps to run as independent in Wentworth and urges voters to put Liberals last

2018-10-06 15:25:10 UTC

2018-12-07 03:30:32 UTC
(2 months later)

The high-profile Sydney doctor Kerryn Phelps has urged voters to put the Liberal party last after confirming she will run as an independent for Malcolm Turnbull’s former seat of Wentworth in a move that could tighten the byelection contest.

The high-profile Sydney doctor Kerryn Phelps has urged voters to put the Liberal party last after confirming she will run as an independent for Malcolm Turnbull’s former seat of Wentworth in a move that could tighten the byelection contest.

But the Sydney City councillor and former Australian Medical Association president says if elected in the 20 October byelection, she won’t be a destabilising presence and has guaranteed she would not block government supply.

But the Sydney City councillor and former Australian Medical Association president says if elected in the 20 October byelection, she won’t be a destabilising presence and has guaranteed she would not block government supply.

The Liberal party has never lost the seat, which is located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The Liberal party has never lost the seat, which is located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Wentworth: progressives will make Liberal safe seat a tricky test for Morrison

Phelps said she had a steep hill to climb given the government holds the seat with a 17% margin but said there was a strong following for the former prime minister, who was ousted from the job in late August.

Phelps said she had a steep hill to climb given the government holds the seat with a 17% margin but said there was a strong following for the former prime minister, who was ousted from the job in late August.

“The people here are frustrated, angry and in despair about what happened to Malcolm Turnbull,” the local doctor told reporters on Sunday. “They don’t want to see continue this revolving door of leadership.”

“The people here are frustrated, angry and in despair about what happened to Malcolm Turnbull,” the local doctor told reporters on Sunday. “They don’t want to see continue this revolving door of leadership.”

Phelps said voters knew Turnbull supported action on climate change, marriage equality and making Australia a republic but the hard right of his party had restricted his ability to speak out on those issues.

Phelps said voters knew Turnbull supported action on climate change, marriage equality and making Australia a republic but the hard right of his party had restricted his ability to speak out on those issues.

She said it was time to bring back some integrity, stability and common sense to the federal parliament.

She said it was time to bring back some integrity, stability and common sense to the federal parliament.

“It is supposed to be a house of representatives and it hasn’t been a representative voice of the Australian people for too long,” she said.

“It is supposed to be a house of representatives and it hasn’t been a representative voice of the Australian people for too long,” she said.

The independent said she was yet to organise any preferences deals but said voters should put her first and the Liberal party last.

The independent said she was yet to organise any preferences deals but said voters should put her first and the Liberal party last.

“It’s really important you send that message that they know that Canberra needs to be a voice for the people,” she said.

“It’s really important you send that message that they know that Canberra needs to be a voice for the people,” she said.

Phelps said her time as a doctor, health communicator and advocate – and as one of the leaders in the marriage equality campaign – gave her the skills to sit in the federal parliament.

Phelps said her time as a doctor, health communicator and advocate – and as one of the leaders in the marriage equality campaign – gave her the skills to sit in the federal parliament.